5 skills trends your business needs to know about in 2018

What’s
on the horizon for businesses in 2018? How should you be investing in skills in
your business and what are the hot topics in training? We caught up with the Skills Hub team for a
spot of future gazing…

Apprenticeships
provide a route to funded training

May
2017 saw the introduction of a new apprenticeship funding scheme. In a
nutshell, employers with a pay bill of over £3m each year, must now pay an
apprenticeship levy. These funds can be used on apprenticeships and to pay
training providers. But the real winner is smaller, non-levy paying employers
who can access government support for help with apprenticeship costs; up to 90%
in some instances.

“The
apprenticeship levy offers a cost-effective solution to upskilling current
members of staff or bringing new skills into the company,” explains Lisa
Hutchings, Skills Connector. “Many businesses are already using it to their
advantage and I predict a boom in take-up in 2018 as more businesses catch on.”

GDPR gets
real

It
has been a 2017 buzzword and it’s not going anywhere in 2018, in fact GDPR
chatter is about to get even louder. All eyes are on 25 May 2018 when the Data
Protection Act gets replaced by tougher, new data regulations and if you handle
or process personal data in ANY way within your business it affects you. Now is
the time to clue-up, get prepped and face GDPR head on.

“Worryingly
many businesses don’t consider GDPR to be something that they have to think
about. It is not just about big businesses with huge CRM’s; small businesses
are more than likely to have to make changes to their practices too,” warns
Julia Le Gallo, Skills Connector. “But it needn’t be scary, lots of help is at
hand and the Skills Hub can point businesses in the right direction.”

Digital
skills gain exponential importance

There
are some skills that few businesses can do without – first aid, health and
safety, customer service etc – and it is almost certain that digital will spend
2018 getting even more comfy on the must-have skills checklist.

“Basic
digital skills are increasingly vital to sustain, yet a surprising amount of retail
businesses still lack an online presence. 2018 has the potential to be a make
or break year for such businesses and gaining basic digital skills will give them
a chance to stay part of the game,” advises Josh Hoole, Project Manager.

People
planning fuels future confidence

As
the saying goes, by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. This applies
across the board when it comes to business but perhaps most significantly in
terms of people planning.

“With an uncertain
future, now is the time to plan and invest in the people and the skills your
business will need in the future,” suggests Ian Watkiss, Skills Connector. “To
take your business forward, it is essential your team has the skills required.”

Higher and
degree apprenticeships combine work with study

Apprenticeships
have shaken off their ‘only manual jobs’, ‘only low-level jobs’ image and are
making their mark in the world of higher education and degree level training.
They offer the opportunity to train whilst earning a salary and gaining
on-the-job experience, providing a seductive alternative to potentially hefty
tuition fees and student debts.

Stu
Anderson, Operations Director, enthuses: “Businesses offering higher and degree
apprenticeships can now compete with universities and attract talent previously
destined for traditional education as a route to fulfilling career aspirations.
We look forward to seeing the number of vacancies of this type growing over the
next year.”

Is your business ready for these trends? Could you be doing more to
harness their potential? The Skills Hub can help and talk you through all the
options. Sign up for a
skills review or get in touch for an
informal chat. It’s completely free, impartial and independent.

The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly
Growth Hub and Skills Hub are part funded by the European Structural &
Investment Fund and is match funded by Cornwall Council, the Department for
Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Local Enterprise Partnership.